MLS LA Galaxy

Galaxy to Face Fire in Semifinals of US Open Cup

Published on September 2, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
LA Galaxy News Release


CARSON, CA (Tuesday, September 2, 2003) - The Los Angeles Galaxy, the 2001 U.S. Open Cup Champion, will visit the Chicago Fire in the semifinals of the 2003 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 at North Central College's Cardinal Stadium in Naperville, IL at 5:00 pm (PT). Television broadcast information for the match will be announced in the near future.

"We are very disappointed not to be hosting, it was a game that we were looking forward to bringing to the Southern California soccer market. We have a very successful history of hosting U.S. Open Cup matches and feel that with the expected national television audience, we were a logical choice," said Galaxy Vice President and General Manager Doug Hamilton. "The U.S. Open Cup is certainly a prestigious event, one that we look forward to competing in each year. We have every hope of getting to the next round and hosting the final at The Home Depot Center."

The Galaxy advanced to the semifinals for the fourth-straight year after an emphatic 5-1 victory over the A-League's Seattle Sounders on August 27 at Seahawks Stadium in Seattle, Washington. Galaxy forward and MLS leading scorer Carlos Ruiz notched his second career hat-trick, while Antonio Martinez and Alejandro Moreno each found the back of the net. The win gives the Galaxy their 13th overall tournament victory and marks the first time they have knocked Seattle out of the cup.

The Galaxy kicked off their quest for a third consecutive Open Cup final appearance with a come from behind 3-1 victory over the Premier Development League's (PDL) Fresno Fuego, 3-1, on August 6. The Galaxy notched several firsts in the victory as forward Arturo Torres and defender Paul Broome each scored their first goals in a Galaxy uniform, while goalkeeper Dan Popik earned his first win.

The Fire advanced to the semifinals this year by defeating the Colorado Rapids, 2-1, in overtime at Cardinal Stadium. Prior to that, the Fire had cruised past the A-League's Milwaukee Wave United 4-1 in a fourth-round match on August 6. The other U.S. Open Cup semifinal match will pit D.C. United against the MetroStars on Tuesday, September 23 at Rutgers' Yurcak Field.

Los Angeles and Chicago are no strangers when a berth to the finals of America's oldest soccer tournament is at stake. This year's match will mark the third time that the Fire and Galaxy will do battle for a spot in the final of the competition in the last four years, with each side splitting the previous two contests at Titan Stadium in Fullerton, CA. On August 23, 2000, the Fire used an overtime goal by Josh Wolff to take a 2-1 victory en route to the club's second U.S. Open Cup title. One year later, on August 22, 2001, it was the Galaxy who would emerge from golden goal overtime after Alexi Lalas scored in the 94th minute to down the Fire 1-0.

Dating back to 1914, the U.S. Open Cup is the oldest soccer cup competition in the United States and among the oldest in the world. Open to affiliated amateur and professional teams in the United States, the annual U.S. Open Cup is a 90-year-old, single-elimination tournament based upon similar competitions played across the world concurrent with domestic league action.

The L.A. Galaxy (7-7-8, 29 pts.) host the Chinese National Team on Wednesday, September 3, 2003 at 7:30 pm at The Home Depot Center. Then, the club returns to MLS action Saturday against D.C. United (7-12-1, 22 pts.) at 4:30 p.m. live on KCAL9 from RFK Stadium. For more information regarding Los Angeles Galaxy tickets, please call the Galaxy toll free at (877) 3GALAXY.

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